Tonga's Democrats well placed early for poll

Nominations for next month's elections in Tonga end this afternoon, and already there are signs this poll will be markedly different from the last one.

The Democratic Party, which has been the Opposition over the past four years, will contest all 17 People's Representative constituencies, but including just five of its MPs elected in 2010.

A political commentator, Kalafi Moala, says this comes after the Akilisi Pohiva led party jettisoned several high profile members, including academic, Dr Sitiveni Halapua.

"They have re-organised with a lot of new blood, and a lot more qualified people so to speak and it's been since May - they have been running on this since May. In fact they are the only group or only party that is organised with a clear cut vision and a mission, they have got their manifesto, they have policies in place. They have a plan of action for the first 100 days."